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T H E Z A N Z I B A R A F R I C A H U B O V E R V I E W Be it one’s 1st or 101st time to Africa, the sight of the continent looming into view as the plane banks is usually an indelible and breath-taking one. For those visiting this vision below is often a glistening, multi- toned cerulean ocean meeting an exquisite archipelago of soft, white shorelines fringing palm-dense lands... The Spice Islands of - and most majestic amongst them: , (or ).Whilst the coast and islands twin marvellously with safari for some excellent beach-based R&R, a wealth of opportunity awaits on Tanzania’s stunning archipelagos. The cultural and historic riches of Zanzibar’s capital, the important former trading-post of ; the endemic rare red colobus monkeys of Jozani forest; the array of water-based activities benefitting from favourable winds and calm seas; its rich marine life; and the range of local culinary delicacies resulting from exotic spices, cultural island fusion and lush vegetation - Zanzibar is a worthy destination in its own right and it warrants a decent amount of time to properly explore. With a main offering of nature, heritage and beach, the Tanzanian Spice Isles are topped with a generous peppering of paradise. K E Y F A C T S W H O F O R

CAPITAL CITY TOURIST HUB(S) History buffs Unguja (Zanzibar main island) Adventure enthusiasts RELIGION LANGUAGE Photographers Anthropologists Muslim English, Kiswahili Birders & Naturalists TIME ZONE CURRENCY Couples GMT +3hrs Groups of Friends FLIGHT TIME (to Lusaka) Older families London 12h45m | New York 13h45m | Dubai 5h A C C E S S I B I L I T Y K N O W N F O R Flights mainly go into Abeid Amani Karume Beautiful white sand beaches & clear International Airport (code ZNZ) on the waters & almost year round good weather archipelago’s primary island of Zanzibar Great water sport activities including a premier (Swahili for Unguja). It is approximately 5km kitesurfing destination south of Zanzibar City. Direct flights from the Island hopping opportunities Middle East & Europe, often the easiest way to Interesting history as a key point along the spice arrive is via (the closest main routes as well as a key slave trading territory hub on Tz mainland). Airlines include KLM, Stone Town, Zanzibar's historic centre of style Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, flyDubai, Qatar architecture and vibrant markets Airways & Air. Domestic airlines Incredible reefs surrounding islands where guests providing hops to surrounding islands in the can see dolphins, whale sharks and a multitude of archipelago include , , colourful native fish & ZanAir. Roads on Unguja are fairly well maintained, however those on P A C K I N G Pemba and are not. Self-drive is As a predominantly Muslim part of the country, not recommended. conservative outfits are vital for exploring outside of your hotel. Women should cover shoulders, cleavage, W H E N T O G O midriff & knees, avoiding skimpy bikinis. Packing checklist: Layers – long & short sleeve shirts & trousers | Warm fleece or jumper for cooler evenings Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec | Waterproof jacket | Comfortable, sturdy shoes | Flip- flops / sandals | Swimming attire | hat/ baseball cap | Sunglasses and Sun-cream | Personal items – toiletries, small medical kit etc | Torch, plug adapter s Good Better Best and charging equipment | Binoculars and camera | Books etc for siesta time W W W . T H E A F R I C A H U B . C O . U K T H E A F R I C A H U B K E Y R E G I O N S

The Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous territory in political union with Tanzania. The island of Zanzibar (Unguja), and Pemba are the larger islands within the archipelago which also has a few smaller neighbouring islands. A republic was established in 1963.

Z A N Z I B A R I S L A N D ( U N G U J A ) Located 22 miles (35 km) off the coast of mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar is a semi- autonomous part of the country and is composed of many small islands and two main ones, namely Unguja and Pemba. Unguja Island is 1,666km2 in size and informally referred to as Zanzibar. Although the capital is Zanzibar City, the historic centre is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town which many itineraries include. The town has a very Omani feel to it and there are many attractions including the Sultan’s palace and gardens as well as the Old Fort. Zanzibar is known as the ‘Spice Island’ and spice tours are a regular inclusion on itineraries. Zanzibar is often included as the beach portion following East African safaris and is also an add on for other safari destinations across the continent. Access to neighbouring islands is easy using scheduled light aircraft flights.

P E M B A I S L A N D Located to the north of Zanzibar (Unguja), Pemba is smaller than Zanzibar (988 km2) and much more hilly. It is known for being incredibly green and it is rich in clove plantations. The main town is called Chake Chake which has a museum within an 18th century fort ruin. Chake Chake airport is where all flights will land into. The island has exceptional diving spots particularly within the Pemba Channel Conservation Area, which includes the water and islets along the entire west coast of the island. Misali Isalnd is found within this area as well, a stunning spot to snorkel and it is also home to the Fischer’s turaco – a rare species popular with bird lovers.

M A F I A I S L A N D Located just off the east coast of Tanzania opposite the delta of the Rufiji River, Mafia Island is the third largest of the extended , but is not administratively included within the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. The Mafia Island Marine Park was established in 1995 and is one of the best places to go diving, particularly Chole Bay which extends over 50 km2 and goes to 28m down. The Marine Park protects the archipelago’s reefs and more than 460 species of fish. This, in particular, makes Mafia Island a very popular spot for divers. The island is best known for finding whale sharks. Birders are also drawn to the island as the southern coastline of Mafia and its associated smaller islands have been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of western reef egrets, Terek sandpipers and crab plovers.

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F A N J O V E I S L A N D

Essentially a private island, Fanjove is further down the Tanzania coast, more southern even than Mafia Island and is less than 1km long. There is only one accommodation on the island, currently under the Selous Safari Company brand. The island is one of the last places where you can find the rare crabs which are among the largest land crustacean in the world, averaging 5lbs in weight (but peaking at 9lbs) and with a leg span of 36 inches. Although a private island, this is a more rustic experience than what one may image. That said it is remote and with just six bandas it does feel very exclusive.

M N E M B A I S L A N D

Another private island, Mnemba is located roughly 3km off the northeast coast of Unguja and is about 500 metres in diameter and about 1.5 kilometres in circumference. The nearest town on Zanzibar Island is Matemwe so it is fairly accessible to reach the Atoll however the island is exclusively for guests at the lodge which is currently under the &Beyond brand. The lodge can only cater to 24 guests with just 12 beachside bandas. The Mnemba Atoll is fairly famous given it is one of the most well-known conservation areas in Zanzibar. Visibility can be as good as 30m. That said it can also be quite busy with divers from the mainland as the waters aren’t exclusive to the island or its residents.

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